SuperMikey Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 To those saying that Lambert is too static up front - I have noticed this a lot more this season than last. Maybe he would work well playing just behind the front 2, as an 'Inside Forward'? Just a thought anyway.
John Boy Saint Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 Wow!! what a banging game, stung twice against the run of play then 11 + 22,000 dug deep and pulled the Rabbit out of the hat. Nigel Adkins programme notes said "Yes its going to be edge of your seat, fingernail biting, heart racing stuff" and finishes with "an emotional roller-coaster awaits your positive support will make the difference. Hold on tight and believe to achieve". Blimey Nige thats the first of ten remaining games: I will spontaneously combust if they are all like that!! Like a few others I am exhausted but elated after todays game, but so pleased we have the minerals to get a result when we have previously crumbled. All thanks to our Jonny on the spot. Nigel I am locked into my seat and my arms might stay (not) inside the carriage at all times.
Sproston Green Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 Unbelievable result today and great rollercoaster of a game to be at On the back of this result we will now have the belief and right mental attitude to make the 2nd promotion place ours. My players ratings for today are:- Davis - 6/10 Did not really have a great deal to do - came off his line alot better than normal and dealt with a few crosses really well Harding - 7/10 Kept plugging away up and down the wing tirelessly, got in quite a few decent crosses Jaidi - 7/10 Solid throughout in the air, hardly lost any battle Fonte - 6/10 Pretty Solid, passing let him down a bit Butterfield - 9/10 Man of the match for me today just on his 1st half performance, great attitude Hammond - 6/10 Nothing spectacular, flashes of determination, but not enough Chaplow - 6/10 Always involved which is good, but end product slightly letting him down Llanna - 8.5/10 did not really have an effect in the 1st half - but his 2nd half performance was truly amazing - unbelievable skill and attitude Lambert - 5/10 for me - very poor lacklustre game - not too sure if it was more him or the supply, leaning more to him ? Barnard - 6/10 poor 1st half - much more effective in the 2nd half, again another one to say is it him or the supply ? Guly - 5/10 very involved in the game, but end product was pretty poor
suewhistle Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 So we can presume all that saw that game and can will be back for Charlton - it sounded great on the radio? How many more though? We should start to ramp up those crowds. Should I risk booking a flight for the Walsall game...
St_Tel49 Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 "the character we showed"? I'd be more comfortable if you changed that pronoun for "the players". To be fair Deppo the fans stayed very noisily behind the team even at 2-0 down. I cannot speak for the TSF posters though.
View From The Top Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 So we can presume all that saw that game and can will be back for Charlton - it sounded great on the radio? How many more though? We should start to ramp up those crowds. Should I risk booking a flight for the Walsall game... Sue, we're going up and that's going to be confirmed at Plymouth. It's written in the stars.
Deppo Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 To be fair Deppo the fans stayed very noisily behind the team even at 2-0 down. I cannot speak for the TSF posters though. I agree with you. It was aimed more at the poster who posted that. He'd thrown his toys out of the pram and showed no character whatsoever.
View From The Top Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 Unbelievable result today and great rollercoaster of a game to be at On the back of this result we will now have the belief and right mental attitude to make the 2nd promotion place ours. My players ratings for today are:- Davis - 6/10 Did not really have a great deal to do - came off his line alot better than normal and dealt with a few crosses really well Harding - 7/10 Kept plugging away up and down the wing tirelessly, got in quite a few decent crosses Jaidi - 7/10 Solid throughout in the air, hardly lost any battle Fonte - 6/10 Pretty Solid, passing let him down a bit Butterfield - 9/10 Man of the match for me today just on his 1st half performance, great attitude Hammond - 6/10 Nothing spectacular, flashes of determination, but not enough Chaplow - 6/10 Always involved which is good, but end product slightly letting him down Llanna - 8.5/10 did not really have an effect in the 1st half - but his 2nd half performance was truly amazing - unbelievable skill and attitude Lambert - 5/10 for me - very poor lacklustre game - not too sure if it was more him or the supply, leaning more to him ? Barnard - 6/10 poor 1st half - much more effective in the 2nd half, again another one to say is it him or the supply ? Guly - 5/10 very involved in the game, but end product was pretty poor You are aware that RL was involved in setting up all three goals aren't you?
scotty Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 One thing I couldnt work out, dont know if its already been mentioned elsewhere, in the first half Rickie and AL seemed to be alternating on the left wing with the other taking over as the target forward. Adam is as we all know fantastic out wide and cutting in, but Rickie seemed out of his comfort zone on the wing, and a few moves broke down when he was out there. And AL's natural positioning doesnt best suit a central striking role. It looked to me like a pre-planned tactic which we abandoned second half.
St_Tel49 Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 We started brightly but no end product. Then after about 10 minutes MK Dons came back into the game but were not a threat. We made too may poor passes. Chaplow and Lallana were the worse culprits. We did not move about enough up front and lacked pace. Hardings final ball into the box was very very poor. Then they scored from a corner, their first one and their first real attack. Clearly we were unable to play the diamond formation the side was set up for. Second half, more of the same. Then MK Dons broke with pace. Davis beaten on his right hand near post yet again. Does he not know where it is!! Changes then made by both sides, a bit late in our case I thought at the time. On comes Forte and bang bang we are level. Barnard, who I thought was not having the best of games, controlled a wonderful pass from Lallana and finished with a very good strike. Although it was always edge of the seat from then on we really never looked like letting the lead go. Great win, keeps up the momentum and the pressure on other sides about us. Men of the match for me was Fonte and Butterfield. Both looked assured and cool in defence. Jiadi his usual air dominance. Lallana had a quiet first half but a very influential second. Well done Forte. Changed the game with two goals close in. Shows what we can do if we get players in the box and deliver the ball. MK Dons looked tidy and worked hard. Can see why they are in with a chance of the playoffs. Ref was poor. When he was pushed by one of the MK Dons players late on he bottled it and only gave a yellow. Surely it was a red. It was a two handed lunge and push in the chest. My sightline was directly along the line of that shot and to be fair to Davies he may have been partly unsighted by Butterfield. There was a lot of venom in the shot too. The main blame for the goal though lies with the fact that our defenders were caught out of position.
sfc4prem Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 Fantastic comeback & result, BUT..... I still have concerns. Once again Kelvin was rooted to his line as a corner was whipped into the six yard box, where as we know, any contact is fatal. I stll maintain any ball into the six yard box is the keepers. Didn't look confident at all after that. The diamond formation was pants last week & so it was again today. Lots of nice triangles going nowhere and about as much penetration as Elton John in the Playboy mansion. Width is so key to goals and we had none in the first half. Butterfield was doing today what Lloyd James used to get crucified for last season - namely lobbing a cross in from forty yards rather than pushing on into the space befor him. (And fair play to NA, he finally twigged it and brought on Richardson.) We looked better balanced with Forte & Stephens on, too, and I would retain all three subs in the team for Tuesday. I don't want to be negative on such a good day, and there were plenty of positives - especially showing a bit of heart when we needed it and Adkins' flexibility when plan A isn't working - but you don't win games with neat triangles and circular passing. Brighton do.
St_Tel49 Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 We flattered to deceive for the first quarter of an hour and had sufficient chances to have been two or three up. But we fluffed our lines, the principal culprit being Gully. He is often a handful around the box, but too often unleashes a weak shot either wide of the target, or straight at the keeper. After they had gone ahead, it began to seem as if we would get nothing if he remained on the pitch. Also both Chaplow and Hammond seemed out of sorts and not their usual combative selves. Hammond especially didn't seem inclined to chase down the 50/50 balls and so it looked as if MKDs might sneak a goal as they came more into the game. Just before they scored, I turned to my neighbour and commented that we really needed to score so that we would get the kick up the backside that we desperately needed and within a few seconds MKDs had obliged. But although we showed a bit more fight, the organisation still wasn't right and all credit must go to Adkins for the substitutions that changed the game. Although Jonathon Forte has not set the World on fire in his previous appearances, leading to some moans around me when he came on, Adkins knows the lad from his time at Scun thorpe and two goals with virtually his first two touches will go some way to quietening his critics and giving the lad a massive confidence boost at the same time. In fact, coming back from two down, gave the team a major psychological boost, possibly more beneficial to us than if we had just won 1-0. We proved to ourselves that we have the resilience, the self-belief and the fire-power to win from situations of adversity and have sent out a warning message to our rivals that with us the match is not lost until the final whistle. Credit is due though to MKDs, who are a good team and even to the final whistle could have equalised and that would not have been a travsty had they done so. But this team of ours wasn't going to let the three points escape without a fight and kept possession really well to run down the clock towards the end. So although for me, the only players worthy of praise in the first half were Harding and Fonte, in the second half, there were several heroes deserving praise. Hammond had lifted his game, Fonte and Jaidi continued to be rock solid against an onslaught, Barnard and Lambert gave their all and Lallana really showed some great flair and incisive passing. The substitutions though changed the game and Richardson, Forte and Stevens almost made us into a different proposition, playing fast attacking football that proved to be unstoppable. To coin the most over-used cliche in football, it was indeed a game of two halves. We have looked equally disinterested in the first half in many other games this season, but as today, thankfully we have lifted ourselves the second half. Automatic promotion is now firmly in our hands. After a performance like the second half today, the belief is increasing that we can do it. If the players also believe, they will achieve it. Not sure that I agree about Harding. He did a lot of good work up to the box but spoiled it with a series of woeful crosses.
Roger Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 Not sure that I agree about Harding. He did a lot of good work up to the box but spoiled it with a series of woeful crosses. WTF! Jaidi was great again. What exactly did he do wrong? The guys an absolute revelation. He is getting quicker as he gets older. Lallana was good but needs to work on his finishing and his free kicks and corners! Looked like stephens will take them. Lambert was lazy but very effective as he set up all 3 goals. Hammond and chaplow poor again. Neither will be good enough for championship imo.
Saint_Ash Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 Brilliant result. Got to laugh at the people who still have to gripe even after an amazing come back, shows fighting spirit and great determination. Look at Man U, 2 nil down and won 4-2, people say its sign of champions for them but some of our fans, maybe they're just old and bitter, don't see it the same with us. Some times you just have to sit back and enjoy this type of match when it comes around and try not to pick holes in it otherwise you'll just never enjoy a football game.
um pahars Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 The problem is the majority of older fans have been used to decent standard in the top league for the last 27 years, they simply do not know how to handle a bit of a drop in class, and so are criticising players who aren't up to the standard they are used to, a standard 2 divisions above where we are. I think most of the older fans would also have experienced a sojourn in the second division where the standard in the 70's wasn't that great. Seriously some of the football back then wasn't all glory stuff (not helped by atrocious pitches either). Additionally, they have experienced performances and players who by modern comparisons would scare you. There can be no doubt that football across the board has improved immensely (the skill level, fitness levels etc are streets ahead of what we used to watch) and I don't think it would be unrealistic to say that the current team would have given some of our older teams a run for their money. I'm certainly more than aware of what division we're playing in and that therefore we are unlikely to see superstars or champagne football (that said, we are lucky to be able to watch Lallana and a few other decent players) and I also don't think people have been over critical in their reviews. I don't see any problem in suggesting we're not playing at our best and that some performances have been under par.
benjii Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 Just skimmed a few posts.... Are people having a go at KD again?.... **** me, some fans are stupid.
Dr Who? Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 KD is a top goalkeeper and we will not get any better in league. The amount of mistakes other keepers make in this league are much higher than KD's and keepers mistakes are always noticed more as they tend to lead to goals. People are forgetting that he was wanted in the premier league!
NickG Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 head and shoulders above the posh keeper, who quite a few were desperate to get in January, and who posh fans are now blaming for ruining their promotion chances
doddisalegend Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 Brilliant result. Got to laugh at the people who still have to gripe even after an amazing come back, shows fighting spirit and great determination. Look at Man U, 2 nil down and won 4-2, people say its sign of champions for them but some of our fans, maybe they're just old and bitter, don't see it the same with us. Some times you just have to sit back and enjoy this type of match when it comes around and try not to pick holes in it otherwise you'll just never enjoy a football game. In fairness we aren't champions that's going to be Brighton........ Also I don't think anyone was enjoying it until we scored the match is best summed up as 60mins of meh and 30mins of yay. In the end we all enjoyed it and went home happy 3pts on the board but was anyone really sat back enjoyinhg it at half time?
the saint in winchester Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 My sightline was directly along the line of that shot and to be fair to Davies he may have been partly unsighted by Butterfield. There was a lot of venom in the shot too. The main blame for the goal though lies with the fact that our defenders were caught out of position. I too was in the sightline from striker to goal and can advise the shot flicked off Butters boot, deflecting the shot past KD's near side post.
Saint_clark Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 Highlights confirm it was deflected. Good, composed finishes for all 3.
Thedelldays Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 lol at the orient keeper.....thank fuk for kelvin
Lighthouse Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 Stephens and Morgan for next season?? What has Hammond done wrong in the 5 out of 6 games we've won since Morgan's injury?
CWD Posted 2 April, 2011 Posted 2 April, 2011 2 assists for Lambert. Even when he's **** he's still effective!
Smirking_Saint Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 Sorry to post this on the post match thread (and yes i am watching the highlights behind real time) but why oh why, in the case of Chris Cohens rash, senseless challenge do the pundits always argue 'Well, he got the ball' ?? For christ sake, he jumped in two footed, miles off the ground and at a massive pace, how the hell is he controlling that challenge ? If i saw that on a sunday i would lump the f*cker.
Draino76 Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 Lumped on a tenner when were 2-0 down @ 20-1. Yeah I know I'm a genius and stuff.
theyin Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 NA seems to be thankful to the fans for getting behind the team when we were down. A change is philosophy from the Northam? Keep it up lads, it seems to work.
dune Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 All my bets came in yesterday; norwich, cardiff, saints, exeter, torquay. £150 to collect. A good day at the office.
saintscottofthenortham Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 In fairness we aren't champions that's going to be Brighton........ Also I don't think anyone was enjoying it until we scored the match is best summed up as 60mins of meh and 30mins of yay. In the end we all enjoyed it and went home happy 3pts on the board but was anyone really sat back enjoyinhg it at half time? We played some great football in the first half. If it wasn't for a pathetic ref and hideous time wasting tactics then we would have looked even better!
sammysaint Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 Great come back wish I was there, will be there tuesday vs charlton. Positive note glad forte scored 2 for us and Lee got another with lambo setting up a few !!
eurosaint Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 We played some great football in the first half. If it wasn't for a pathetic ref and hideous time wasting tactics then we would have looked even better! Personally I thought that the ref did well, he kept the game flowing and was so much better than most of the useless p1llocks we normally get ! The 'time wasting' almost came back to haunt us when he added on 5 mins at the end, I think this was right, but by then of course we were baying for the final whistle !!
Eastcowzer Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 I'm off to A & E Think I'll Join you. Bleeding finger stumps, nails chewed away. Why do Saints keep teasing us this way
doddisalegend Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 Personally I thought that the ref did well, he kept the game flowing and was so much better than most of the useless p1llocks we normally get ! The 'time wasting' almost came back to haunt us when he added on 5 mins at the end, I think this was right, but by then of course we were baying for the final whistle !! Yes it did make me laugh while we were losing the SMS faithful was baying for blood becuase MK Dons were time wasting. Then at the end when the ref added time for it everyone was upset becuase we were winning. Can't have it both ways can we?
doddisalegend Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 We played some great football in the first half. If it wasn't for a pathetic ref and hideous time wasting tactics then we would have looked even better! No we really didn't.I take you managed to stay for the whole game this week? no snaking this time?
Saint_clark Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 No we really didn't.I take you managed to stay for the whole game this week? no snaking this time? Yes we did.
NickG Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 think both teams used all subs so that makes 3 mins, was bit of injury so prob about right - don't think 5 mins were played tho!
thegaffer Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 I timed it. 5 mins exactly.think both teams used all subs so that makes 3 mins, was bit of injury so prob about right - don't think 5 mins were played tho!
doddisalegend Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 (edited) Yes we did. Well we could go on like this all day, (other than the first 5-6mins) the midfield was over crowded resulting in lots of aimless heading, punting and general undtidy play. What ever pretty stuff we played was wasted becuase no one was in the oppostion box to do any damage. The subs changed eveything (all credit to Nigel) and the last half hour we were much better. End result good game happy warmi feeling but lets not pretend we were playing great football for the first 55 minutes becuase we weren't. Edited 3 April, 2011 by doddisalegend
Saint_clark Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 The aimless heading etc. you're referring to was only after they scored and we got a bit desperate. We were carving them to pieces before the first goal. I agree with Adkins though that we weren't quite moving the ball quick enough to do any real damage.
Amesbury Saint Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 The problem is the majority of older fans have been used to decent standard in the top league for the last 27 years, they simply do not know how to handle a bit of a drop in class, and so are criticising players who aren't up to the standard they are used to, a standard 2 divisions above where we are. I saw a lot of dross when Saints were in the premiership. Expensive dross.
Saint_clark Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 I saw a lot of dross when Saints were in the premiership. Expensive dross. And yet if you watch some of the videos of Saints games when we were in the Prem, even in the relegation season, we were playing cracking football compared to the majority of what we've seen these last 6/7 years.
um pahars Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 Personally I thought that the ref did well, he kept the game flowing and was so much better than most of the useless p1llocks we normally get ! Have to agree about the ref, he seemed to let a lot go and the game flowed better because of it. As you say much better than many we have had. Certainly can't remember any barking decisions (although he bottled it when one of their players roughed him up a bit).
Whitey Grandad Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 Personally I thought that the ref did well, he kept the game flowing and was so much better than most of the useless p1llocks we normally get ! The 'time wasting' almost came back to haunt us when he added on 5 mins at the end, I think this was right, but by then of course we were baying for the final whistle !! I agree with you. He didn't keep blowing for niggling trifles and let the game flow whenever possible. The MK Dons' players were sitting on the grass whinging for the first fifteen minutes. I also timed it at just over 5 minutes extra time.
benjii Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 No we really didn't.I take you managed to stay for the whole game this week? no snaking this time? Yes we did. First 30 minutes we were excellent. They scored from a set piece which was probably their only attack. We were completely dominant.
beatlesaint Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 Just skimmed a few posts.... Are people having a go at KD again?.... **** me, some fans are stupid. Why are they ? Basic goalkeeping coaching tells you to have your near post covered at all times - Davis does not, he constantaly gives a forward the opportunity to put the ball in at the near post. How many goals has he conceeded at the near post this season from an angle where scoring there should not be an option ? He had a much better game yesterday having said that, for the first time in ages he didnt tit around taking forever to distribute the ball and looked more assured......but that near post thing is a worry.
benjii Posted 3 April, 2011 Posted 3 April, 2011 Thought ref was good although they will probably be angry he didn't give them a pen. This "time wasting" stuff is rubbish that surfaces whenever we are not in front. They were taking no longer than normal.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now